Take Me Out Question

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 4:03pm

Did Take Me Out recoup its initial investment?

Also, for anyone who saw it, what did you think of it? I'm in the process of writing a paper on it for English.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 4:08pm

No, Take Me Out closed at a loss on Broadway, despite running 10 months and winning the Tony.

I enjoyed much of it (especially Denis O'Hare's performance). I never quite bought the play's explanation for Lemming's coming out (the motivation seemed unrealistic or, frankly non-existent), but otherwise Greenberg's writing was witty and clever with several well-considered arguments.

[OasisBroadway]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 4:10pm

I am not sure about whether it recouped its investment, but I did see it and thoroughly enjoyed it. I saw it off-Broadway, on Broadway, and a local production. All were very good. The message of the show meant a lot to me and it remains one of my favorites.

[robbiej]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 4:24pm

I enjoyed it with reservations. I felt there were three, three, three plays in one...and the most interesting one was the least developed.

There was Mason's story, which was very moving, but definitely outside the action. There was the murder-mystery that was unconvincing. And then there was the really interesting part: what happens to a society (here, a baseball team) when an 'other' is introduced...more, what happens when the 'other' turns out to be one of their own. Greenberg started to explore it...but I think the other two stories got in the way a bit.

I still enjoyed it a great deal. And appreciated the body types employed during the piece (nobody looked like a Chelsea boy).

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 4:30pm

I definitely liked the Broadway production better in comparison to the Studio Theatre's production (DC) last summer. In the latter, the performances where more or less "charicatures" which more or less took away from my enjoyment of the play.

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 4:45pm

Dottie,

A similar problem plagued the Toronto production. The direction, and the lead actor, seemed pretty lacklustre.

Akiva

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 5:22pm

In DC, the director played the Denis O'Hare role and that's where the problems began. He was so over the top it wasn't funny.

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 5:38pm

MargoChanning: Do you know if it came close to recouping its investment? Is there anyplace where I could find more information about its finances?

[michelle4]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 5:44pm

I went to see it after getting free tickets off the Equity board. I had no clue what it was about and was ready to leave at intermission if I needed. Needless to say I stayed for the whole show. While it was a lot to take in and some of it was far fetched I felt that overall it was an extremely smart and incredibly well acted play.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 6:03pm

akiva, the problem with the Toronto production is that they didn't let Thom Allison sing!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 6:15pm

I seem to remember reading they recouped about 80%, but I'm not sure. That info was in an article in Variety or The Times as I recall. You might try to search for it.

Updated On: 3/16/06 at 06:15 PM

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 6:17pm

Seriously. Only a few days before I saw him in the SFANW concert and he was a powerhouse, and my friends back home raved about him in Theatre Calgary's Cabaret and Evita. Then suddenly he was boring and one-dimensional in Take Me Out.

Akiva

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 6:49pm

I loved that SFANW benefit concert! So much fun. Thom is fabulous. I've seen him in so many different shows: Rent (several times), Outrageous, ITW and Hello Dolly last year at Stratford, TMO and SFANW. Love his voice, but I agree, TMO was not his best performance. As much as I love Thom, he didn't compare to Daniel Sunjata in NY. I actually think that Mike Shara was the highlight of TMO in Toronto.

[cturtle]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 7:55pm

the only b'way show i've seen twice. (besides FB.) loved it. got the script too, which is a lot of fun to read. then i got all excited about seeing greenberg's THE VIOLET HOUR ... and didn't like it at all.

[slyoptimist]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 8:57pm

Loved it. Saw it twice. Denis O'Hare's performance was stellar, great script... really enjoyed it.

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 3/16/06 at 10:32pm

Argh. Would give anything to have seen this show. Given that possibly my three favorite things in the world are plays, baseball, and Denis O'Hare, it would have been perfect for me. Alas...

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:52am

Then suddenly he was boring and one-dimensional in Take Me Out.

It's the role I think. As Margo stated his reasons for coming out were weak and he seesm so full of himself. Even the way he treats Mars is kinda cruel at times.

Thom did the best he could...but the real star of the Tornto production was Mike Shara as SHane.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 12:59am

(The naked boys were pretty.)

[MarkCohen]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 9:49am

I have only seen Thom in Into the Wood and I found him kind of boring. He was the weak link of that amazing production. Maybe I'm just attached to overly-melodramatic Princes.

I am dying to see him and Sharron Matthews in Songs for a New World though.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 10:00am

Gallery Players in Brooklyn is performing TAKE ME OUT from April 1-16.
Gallery Players Website

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/17/06 at 10:03am

this thread is bringing to mind fond memories of Daniel Sunjata standing there in all his glory!!! Quite a bat he has there!!!